Of course, it is possible to move a big plane backward using reverse thrust. On the Roll Royce engine of the Airbus, it is possible to get about 30 per cent reverse power on maximum engine thrust. So there is still quite a lot of thrust to move the plane backward but it is not approved from a stationary position on the ground except during the landing to shorten the distance required to stop.

Why is it so? Well, the resulting jet blast may cause damage to the terminal building or equipment if they were used to push back on the ground. Engines close to the surface may also blow sand and debris forward and then suck it into the engine, causing damage inside the turbines.

In the past, older DC 9 planes with tail engines used to move backward using the reversers – see video above.

This is no longer practiced on the Boeing 737s, the Airbus 330s or other modern jetliners with forward engines near to the ground as it is against company procedures
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